Main » Perseids 2018: Where and how to watch the dazzling meteor shower

Perseids 2018: Where and how to watch the dazzling meteor shower

10 August 2018

Because it's in a new phase, the moon won't be up and the night sky will be darker, said Bruce Twarog, a University of Kansas professor with the department of physics and astronomy.

The Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project in Sharjah has geared up its preparation for the Perseid Meteor Shower, scheduled to light the UAE skies on Sunday from 8pm to 1am.

Meteor showers are caused when meteoroids, who were once part of a comet or asteroid, start hitting Earth's atmosphere in streams. The ice and dust, accumulating over a thousand years, burn up in our atmosphere to create the meteor shower. Be sure to check your local weather forecast.

Last year's shower was especially active, delivering up to 150 meteors an hour expected at its height, and while this year the shooting stars won't be quite as regular, stargazers can still expect to see around 70 of them an hour.

The Virtual Telescope Project will be streaming a view of the Perseid meteor shower on Sunday from the Castel Santa Maria in Italy's Perugia province, where the community is restoring the 16th-century church that has been damaged by several earthquakes. The Perseids takes place every year between July 17 and August 24.

One of the best shooting-star shows of the year (at least in the northern hemisphere) is upon us again with the arrival of the Perseid meteor shower.

As the night nears dawn, Cooke says viewers can expect to see a meteor every minute or so, which is about standard for the Perseids. It's a rich meteor shower, and it's steady.

There's a unique opportunity to watch what may look like shooting stars putting on a show this weekend. As always, it's best to get away from light pollution and head far away from city centers. No special equipment is needed, just patience. The planet Mars will keep you company all night long as it low in the south east as the sky darkens.

The livestream will begin August 12 at 9:00 p.m. MDT, continuing until 4 a.m. MDT August 13.

If you'd rather watch the Perseid meteor shower from the comfort of your own home, the Virtual Telescope Project is live broadcasting the shower from scenic Castel Santa Maria, Italy, beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST on August 12.

Why does a meteor shower occur?

The Perseids appear to emanate from between the constellations Perseus and Cassiopeia, but to catch them there's really no need to worry about which direction you're looking. "Comets and asteroids leave tiny bits of themselves in the orbital path that they take around the sun".